An arginine to histidine mutation in codon 315 of the c-erbA beta thyroid hormone receptor in a kindred with generalized resistance to thyroid hormones results in a receptor with significant 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine binding activity.

Generalized resistance to thyroid hormones results from diverse mutations in the T3-binding domain of the c-erbA beta thyroid hormone receptor, and different kindreds have variable phenotypes. However, the T3-binding affinities of these mutant receptors studied in vitro have all been severely reduced compared to wild type. We report here a new kindred, CL, with a mutation further upstream than previously reported, a guanine to adenine base substitution at nucleotide 1244 in codon 315 changing an arginine to histidine. This base substitution was the only one found in codons 90-456 of genomic sequence and was formally shown to be a mutation by screening 51 random individuals. The kindred CL receptor complementary DNA was recreated, and the mutant receptor synthesized with rabbit reticulocyte lysate had a T3-binding affinity of 2.4 +/- 0.9 x 10(10) M-1 compared to the wild-type human placental receptor affinity of 5.2 +/- 1.6 x 10(10) M-1. Affected members of this kindred appeared clinically to have a relatively mild degree of resistance with mean total thyroxine of only 192 +/- 24 nmol/L and inappropriately normal TSH levels. Kindred CL is an example of mild generalized resistance to thyroid hormones correlated with a mutation in the beta-receptor that resulted in only a modest deficiency in T3-binding activity.